Systems and methods for projecting composite images

Systems and methods for projecting composite images

Embodiments of the present invention comprise electronic projection systems and methods. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of creating composite images with a projection system comprising as first projector and at least a second projector, comprising generating a correspondence map of pixels for images by determining offsets between pixels from at least a second image from the second projector and corresponding pixels from a first image from the first projector, receiving a source image, warping the source image based at least in part on the correspondence map to produce a warped image, and displaying the source image by the first projector and displaying the warped image by the second projector to create a composite image.Related Terms:Projector

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the field of projection displays and more particularly to the field of electronic projection systems comprising two or more projectors whose output is combined to form a composite image.

BACKGROUND

Increasingly there is a need for motion picture producers and exhibitors to differentiate their product at motion picture theatre multiplexes from that of competitors and to differentiate the theatre experience from that which customers can obtain at home. One approach is to provide images that are larger, sharper and brighter than what viewers can experience elsewhere.

A number of attempts have been made over the years to improve the performance of film based projectors by tiling multiple projectors together (e.g. Cinerama in the 1950s) or by using a larger 5 perforation 70 mm film format (e.g. Todd AO or Cinemascope). The applicant, IMAX Corporation, successfully developed a higher performance motion picture system using a 15 perforation 70 mm film format; enabled by a rolling loop film transportation mechanism.

Another approach to differentiate the performance of film based projectors is to exhibit 3D motion pictures. This approach has been commercialized by various organizations including the applicant over the years. Typically 3D presentation requires two filmstrips, one for each eye, and two separate projectors to display the images contained on the filmstrips. Sometimes it may be desirable to convert such a system so that a standard 2D motion picture can be shown, and in the case of a two projector system it is straight forward; one projector can be switched off while the other is used. We shall see that the invention disclosed below has the benefit of improving performance by using the second projector in 2D operation rather than letting it sit idle.

An emerging trend within the motion picture industry is to replace standard film based projection with state of the art electronic projectors for a variety of reasons including cost savings in motion picture distribution, and presentation of live events in real time. A disadvantage of current electronic projectors is that they are limited in resolution and light output required for large immersive screens. This is mainly due to manufacturing economics and the current emphasis on electronic projectors that propose to compete with standard 35 mm film based projection only. One approach to deal with the resolution and light output limits of electronic projectors is to tile or combine the output of multiple separate projectors to form one large composite image at the display screen surface. A number of patents have been granted discussing various methods of tiling or stitching together the images of separate electronic projectors including:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,000 discloses a method of combining N projectors together to form a composite image where the sub-images overlap and where the overlap areas are modulated to compensate for the increased brightness in those regions. The sub images are also corrected for misalignments.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,022 involves the use of a three-dimensional array of smoothing factors that is applied to the blending of overlapped image seams as well as to other composite image artifacts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,339 discloses a method of generating a projector to screen map by combining the results of a camera to screen mapping with a camera to projector mapping. The projector to screen map is used to produce a pixel correcting function that in turn is used to warp images to correct for misalignments and to correct for illuminance and color artifacts in the region of the screen where the images overlap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,593 describes a multiple projector system that tiles images together to achieve a high resolution display. Images are captured from a camera and parameters are calculated to permit warping the output of each of the projectors via analytic expressions.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,568,816 and 6,760,075 describes a projection system, which has a single light source that supplies light to multiple projection heads whose output are sub-images that overlap to form composite images. The single light source ensures that colorimetery matching problems between the sub-images are eliminated.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,623 discloses the use of blending frames located between the projection lenses and the display screen to control the brightness of the images in the overlapping region, and further discloses the use of an adaptive technique using a camera based iterative algorithm to fine tune the blending of overlapped images.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,771,272 discloses a graphics system comprising pixel calculation units and a sample buffer that is used to correct for display non-uniformities, such as seam overlap brightness by appropriately scaling pixel values prior to projection.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,138 describes a system of forming a mosaic image from multiple projectors by projecting registration images from each to form a union registration image. This registration image is then used to generate a projective matrix, which is used to warp individual source images to achieve a unified composite image. The brightness from each of the projectors is weighted in the overlap regions to minimize seam visibility.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,406 describes a composite image display method using display to screen and screen to camera spatial transformation functions as well as a spatial luminance transfer function to pre-warp image segments prior to projection. An inverse of the spatial luminance function is used to blend colors in the tiled composite image.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,448 discloses a composite image display system which uses test images and means of sensing to determine correction data that is used to provide for a uniform level of illumination, overlap regions included, across the entire display screen surface.

All of these tiling techniques use various combinations of optical and electronic image correction to ensure that the overlapped region is indistinguishable from non-overlapped regions. Electronic image correction sacrifices the number of bits available to display images (bit depth) because some of the available image bits are used to correct for non-uniformities in brightness and color. In order to correct for brightness, color mismatches and spatial misalignments of pixels between the projectors a calibration technique, which measures the image on the screen to determine the required correction must be employed.

Conventional methods to achieve tiling require warping of images from every projector in the system. Each projector carries its own set of distortions that need to be eliminated in order to prevent artifacts near or within the overlap region. The removal of all distortions requires a mapping onto absolute screen coordinates, which is done through analytic expressions.

In the process of equalizing brightness and color between the two projectors, the output from each color channel must be adjusted. This adjustment is subtractive and leads to a lower light output of the combined system. These displays that use tiling must be frequently recalibrated primarily due to the reduction in brightness or changes in color that occur as the lamps age.

As well, these patents listed above do not address the unique requirements of projecting 3D stereoscopic motion picture images. Foremost 3D projection requires two separate and coded channels of image data to be projected, one for each eye's (left and right) point of view. In a tiled system the only way to achieve separate left and right eye images without modification of the system is to multiplex left and right eye images in time. As such the display duration of each frame is halved with the first portion devoted to displaying left eye images and the second portion for displaying right eye images. While this approach is possible, in one implementation, it requires expensive alternate eye shutter glasses to be worn by audience members. The need for alternate eye glasses can be eliminated with the use of a fast acting polarization converting element to switch the polarization of images for the right and left eyes thus allowing passive polarizing glasses to be worn by the audience, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,341. Whether alternate eye shutter glasses are used or a fast acting polarizer is employed, time multiplexing the left and right eye images sacrifices brightness. As well, these methods place a higher demand on the electronic projectors to show content at faster frame rates and results in a reduced bit depth of the projected images.

There are also alternative approaches to project 3D in a tiled projection system that would require modification to placement of images on the screen. In the case of a two projector system, this would require that the output of the two projectors be fully overlapped. A passive 3D technique may then be used (polarizers or color filters) to separate left and right eye images. However, converting a system that requires images to be tiled for 2D operation and overlapped for 3D operation within a short time period time between 2D and 3D motion picture screenings would be complex and cost prohibitive.

A preferred approach for combining the output of two or more projectors used for 3D and 2D presentations is to completely overlap the two images. When images are completely superimposed, differences in brightness and color between the two projectors do not appear as local discontinuities that are readily detectable by the human eye. As such, a completely superimposed image does not suffer the loss in image bit depth and brightness incurred in a tiled display to achieve the required uniformity and does not require calibration to ensure overlapped and non-overlapped regions are indistinguishable. In a fully overlapped system the only calibration that is required is the measurement of the spatial distortions that cause pixel misalignments among the pixels projected from different projectors. A projection system that superimposes images is thus more robust due to insensitivity to changes in brightness and color of the images that occur as the system is used.

The following patents discuss various embodiments of fully overlapped component projectors achieved by electronically warping the image data. U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,339. In one embodiment of this patent, the images of two projectors having a small pixel fill factor are completely overlapped to produce a super resolution display. U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,593 describes an embodiment where their warping system is used to superimpose two images that may be used to increase 2D light levels or may be used for 3D applications.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0239885 discloses a super resolution composition method that uses a derived projector correspondence map to a target surface. All component images are warped to the target surface and then an algorithm working in the spatial frequency domain optimizes the image quality. This optimization process depends on the image being displayed and is iterative malting it unsuitable for real time motion picture projection.

The following patents describe methods for increasing the resolution of a display by superimposing with a half pixel offset between the component images without warping the images electronically. Offset may be defined to be a vector displacement with two orthogonal components.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,009 discloses a method of enhancing the horizontal and/or vertical resolution of a display device by simultaneously combining the output of two or more offset spatial light modulators.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,593 is primarily focused on methods for tiling, but does mention the possibility of superposition of images to increase light levels and to allow the system to be used for 3D presentations.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,189 discloses a dual polarization optical projection system capable of 2D and 3D presentations in which separate component images are combined prior to projection through a single projection lens. The resulting images are fully overlapped on the projection screen and can be used to increase the brightness of the display, increase the resolution of the display by imposing a fixed offset of one image relative to the other of less than one pixel, or project stereoscopic images using the orthogonal polarization of the component images to distinguish left and right eye images.

Other patents, such as for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,231,189 and 5,490,009, disclose methods to achieve higher brightness and resolution by superimposing projectors with a fixed sub-pixel offset relative to each other. In order to achieve the fixed offset when projecting on a curved screen, the images must be combined through a single projection lens as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,189. This negates the possibility of using off-the-shelf projectors. In addition, there are considerable challenges involved to mechanically register pixels with a fixed sub-pixel offset and maintain this offset over repeated use. In particular, when illuminating large screens the amount of light that must travel through the system results in thermal cycling that makes pixel registration more challenging.

To overcome challenges of maintaining a fixed sub-pixel registration required when combining multiple projectors to enhance brightness and increase resolution, certain patents or published patent applications such as, for example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0239885 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,456,339, 6,814,448, and 6,570,623 disclose methods of image warping. These warping methods use a calibration method to measure the spatial misalignments between different projectors. These calibration methods calculate a correspondence map between the projectors and a screen co-ordinate system for warping the image data to correct for geometric distortions. The distortions result from optical or projection point differences among the projectors. The calibration methods disclosed work on the premise of being able to calculate absolute screen positions. Absolute screen positions are required to correct distortions caused by projection points that deviate significantly from normal incidence relative to the screen or where the intended application is sensitive to distortions. In order to convert images taken by a camera to absolute screen positions, the distortion of the camera and the relationship of the camera to the screen must be known. In these systems both images are warped to the absolute screen coordinates. If multiple cameras are used, then the calibration of the cameras to the screen must be extremely accurate in order to ensure correct warping of the images to achieve pixel registration. As disclosed in the prior art, this requires moving a physical test target across the screen surface. In a large cinema projection system this method of calibration is not practical.

The above patents do not address the needs that a motion picture cinema projection system must fulfill to be successful against competing display technologies. In particular, systems that requite the determination of absolute screen coordinates to superimpose images are unnecessarily complex and impractical to implement in a cinema theatre environment. They do not take advantage of the fact that, in a theatre environment, the image from a projector has relatively low distortion and may be projected essentially without modification onto the screen. This arises from the fact that the optical axis of the projection system is tear normal incidence to the screen in a typical theatre environment. In addition, an immersive cinematic experience requires a large field of view that can't be seen all at once. In this situation, distortions occur gradually relative to the viewer's gaze and are not noticeable.

There are additional requirements that are not easily met by existing art when the cinema projector must show both 2D and 3D presentations or when one presentation is a mixture of 2D and 3D formats. In some cases a custom projection system must be designed. In other cases, one must resort to using expensive shutter glasses or incur the light loss of 3D methods that use time multiplexing to distinguish left and right eye images.

Existing art does not take advantage of the different requirements of 2D and 3D presentation and the display properties required for an immersive experience. There is a difference between optimal brightness for 2D compared to 3D projection. In 3D projection a trade-off exists between brightness and perceived cross-talk between left and right eyes. Cross-talk occurs when a right-eye image leaks into the left eye or vise versa. This ghosting artifact is more apparent when the semen brightness is increased. As a result, the optimal brightness for 3D projection is generally lower than that required for 2D projection.

In addition to providing enhancements to the two modes of presentation, a successful system must also provide: a high quality of presentation in these modes; be cost effective; be easy to set up and calibrate; allow for a quick conversion from one mode to the other, and be easy to maintain.

The needs described above require a unique and optimal combination of the physical arrangement, calibration and mapping of the component projectors. This combination of elements is the subject of this patent and will be discussed in more detail below.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic projection system that is capable of improving image fidelity by combining the output of multiple projectors by warping images to sub-pixel accuracy relative to a reference (master) projector. Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems in which multiple projectors are configured in a master-slave relationship. The slave projector(s) images are warped to sub-pixel accuracy relative to the master projector to achieve higher light levels and improved image fidelity. Further differentiation is obtained by using these same projectors to display either stereoscopic (3D) motion pictures or enhanced 2D motion pictures.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the images of the slave projectors are homographically mapped to the master projector. This is distinct from conventional projection systems where all projectors are homographically mapped to absolute screen coordinates by means of a camera, which is homographically mapped to the screen. Unlike these conventional systems, one embodiment of the present invention does not attempt to get rid of all distortions of the master projector, but instead maps all slave projectors to match the image of the master projector. The relative warping disclosed in this invention greatly simplifies the system needed to achieve superposition of images to sub-pixel accuracy.

In an embodiment of the present invention, empirical data is used to achieve superposition to sub-pixel accuracy. Conventional projection systems are generally focused on removing all aberrations in the system by mapping to absolute screen coordinates. In order to achieve this mapping, analytic expressions are used by such systems to correct and remove the distortions in all the projected images. In contrast, one embodiment of the present invention uses a pixel correspondence map that is derived empirically to serve as the means for warping. An advantage of this method is that superposition to sub-pixel accuracy can be achieved even in regions where higher order distortions occur and analytical modeling is difficult. An example of such a distortion is the deformation of a vinyl screen when mounted upon a frame that is curved in the horizontal direction, in order to remove all creases, the vinyl must be stretched across the frame. This stretching causes the screen to deviate from a cylindrical shape. Furthermore the shape will change with time as the screen relaxes. By using an empirical method to achieve superposition, the ability to achieve sub-pixel registration is independent of the ability to model higher order distortions.

Briefly, according to one aspect of this invention, a projection system and method are described that optimally use two electronic projectors to provide both a 3D stereoscopic mode and a 2D projection mode of operation. Switching between these modes of operation can occur between presentations and within presentations. The two projectors are physically set up with their image fields substantially or completely overlapped. A camera is used to measure projected test patterns on the screen. The camera images are used to calculate a pixel correspondence map that maps the projected pixel location of one projector to projected pixel location of another projector with sub-pixel accuracy.

In a first embodiment of a 2D mode of operation, one projector is selected as a master and projects the source image without warping. This is advantageous due to the savings in computation that is significant for projecting motion picture presentations. As well, there is an image quality advantage in a system that does not require warping of the master image. Warping requires interpolation and can introduce artifacts into the image thus reducing image fidelity compared to an image that is not warped. The second projector (slave) projects an image that is warped to match the image from the master projector by selective sampling of the source image using the pixel correspondence map. The resulting composite image is twice as bright and exhibits an improvement in image fidelity due to a reduction in image artifacts as will be explained below.

In a second embodiment of a 2D mode of operation, the power of the projection lamps can be reduced to prolong the life of said lamps while still maintaining a screen brightness equal or greater to the brightness from a single projector.

In a third embodiment of a 2D mode of operation, the total overlapping of images is a means to provide a higher frame rate presentation using projection technology that would otherwise be considered too slow to do so.

In a fourth embodiment of a 2D mode of operation, the master projector projects a pre-distorted image so that the resultant image on the screen is free of first order distortions. Examples of first order effects are keystone distortion and barrel or pincushion lens distortion. As per other 2D embodiments, the slave projector(s) are warped to sub-pixel resolution to match the master projector image.

In the 3D mode of operation, the second eye of the stereoscopic pair is warped to match the first eye to eliminate the need for high precision optics to match left and right eye image sizes. Failure to match image sizes results in distortions that degrade the stereoscopic effect and may lead to eye fatigue.

In a second embodiment of a 3D stereoscopic mode of operation, each electronic projector combines three separate color channels, two of which have one polarization orientation with the third having an orthogonal orientation of polarization, into a unified beam of light. This is a common output polarization configuration for a liquid crystal based modulator system where the color channels are combined through a polarization sensitive x-Cube. The polarization states of all the channels in the two projectors are rendered orthogonal to one another by a suitable optical means. In so doing, one color channel in the second projector has identical polarization to the two complementary color channels in the first projector. The remaining three color channels from the two projectors have identical polarization states that are orthogonal to the first three. The color channels having identical polarization are combined to form a the stereoscopic images, one for each eye. Because each eye's image is a composite image with two color channels from one projector and a third from a second projector one of the components must be warped, using the pixel correspondence map, so that there is an accurate overall registration of the color channels. This color dependent warping technique eliminates the need for additional polarizers or polarization converting elements, which introduce light loss and changes in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the overall components of the projection system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data in the 2D mode of operation according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data in the 3D mode of operation according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data when a high resolution source is used to project 2D images according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data when a high resolution source is used to project 3D images according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data in the alternate 3D mode were color channel have different polarizations according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing the operational flow of image data in the alternate 3D mode were color channel have different polarizations and all colors of the slave projector are warped according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the steps performed in generating the pixel correspondence map to warp one image into alignment with the other according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an example of a test pattern used for calibration according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustrating the relative and varying offset of one projected image with the other according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows an illustrative shape of one possible sampling function used to warp one image with respect from another using the pixel offset map according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows an illustrative fractional pixel offset map as a function of screen position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows illustrative plots showing pixilated output of single and superimposed projectors for sinusoidal input signals of different frequencies according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows an illustrative comparison of MTF for single and superimposed projectors with 100% fill factor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows illustrative artifacts as a function of spatial frequency for superimposed images with different offsets according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows illustrative artifacts from a single projector compared to artifacts from a system with superimposed images averaged over all pixel offsets according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows an illustrative operational flow of image data when a high frame rate mode is used according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 shows an illustrative timing diagram for the high frame rate mode according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows an illustrative timing diagram for the high frame rate mode with increased brightness according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 shows an illustrative timing diagram for a high frame rate mode of operation with shutter for reduced motion artifacts according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21 shows an illustrative timing diagram for operation with double shutter for reduced artifacts according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a convertible projection system (1) is shown composed of two separate electronic motion picture projectors (3, 4). Other embodiments of the projection system may contain more than two electronic motion picture projectors. The projectors are not limited to a particular electronic technology and may in fact be based on DMD (deformable mirror device) technology, LC (liquid crystal) reflective or LC transmissive technology, or any other existing or emerging electronic projection technology. In FIG. 1 the two projectors (3,4) are shown in their preferred embodiment of one placed above the other; however they may also be arranged in other positions relative to one another. The two projectors, regardless of their physical arrangement, project their images onto a projection screen (2) so that they are substantially superimposed or overlapped.

In other embodiments, more than two projectors may be used. For example, more than two projectors superimposed to project onto a single area. Alternatively, another embodiment includes both tiling and superposition where any point on the screen is illuminated by at least two projectors.

An alignment camera (5) is positioned to record test images projected by both projectors (3,4) onto the screen (2) to calculate the pixel correspondence map (FIG. 2, 21) used by the warping algorithm in the warping unit (FIG. 2, 20). Once the two projectors (3,4) are physically positioned and correspondence map (FIG. 2, 21) calculated, the projection system (1) can be rapidly and easily switched from 2D and 3D modes of projection by simply changing the electronic data sent to the projector. As stated above, color and brightness changes that occur as the system ages do not have any first order effects on image quality for 2D presentations. For 3D presentations, the brightness of the projectors must be matched to ensure high quality presentations.

The embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 uses a single camera for calibration. However, other embodiments may use multiple cameras to serve the same function.

Re-calibration of this preferred embodiment is only required when the relative position of the projectors (3,4) to the screen (2) is changed. This may occur due to a physical movement of the projector or due to a change in screen position. Changes in position of the image on the screen can be caused by changes in the optical path or modulator positions. The immersiveness of the presentation is enhanced by curving and tilting the screen towards the audience. Screens are normally made of vinyl that is stretched over a frame located at the perimeter of the screen. The position of the screen may change over time as the vinyl stretches and sags.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate schematically the flow of imago data from storage to projection for each projector in both the 2D and 3D stereoscopic modes of operation. In the 2D mode shown in FIG. 2, a single source image buffer (10) contains source image data for one image that is to be projected on a projection screen for viewing by a theatre audience. Source image data buffer (10) is continuously being refreshed by new images at a suitable display rate, typically 24 frames per second, from an external image storage unit not shown. Image data from source image data buffer (10) is transferred simultaneously and in parallel to a master projector image data buffer (11), and to an image warping unit (20). The warping unit (20) warps the source image data in accordance with a pixel correspondence map (21) generated in calibration process (as described below and shown in FIG. 8). Once the source image has been warped by the warping unit (20), it is transferred to a slave projector image buffer (12). Then the image data in the buffers (11,12) are simultaneously transferred to the projectors (3,4) for projection on to the screen. The images are substantially or completely overlapped. The slave projector image is warped with sub-pixel accuracy to match the master projector image. The composite image on the screen is without noticeable defects and exhibits an improvement in image quality over that which would result from only one of the projectors being used. In particular the composite image will exhibit superior brightness and an improvement in image fidelity due to a reduction in image artifacts for superimposed images. If the increased brightness on the screen is in excess of what is needed to achieve the desired presentation quality, the power of the projection lamps can be reduced to prolong their life and reduce operating costs.

FIG. 3 shows image data flow in the 3D stereoscopic mode of operation. In this mode each projector has a unique source of image data one set of images corresponding to left eye images and the other to right eye images. A source image buffer (13) transfers the left eye image data to a master projector image buffer (11) where it is stored temporarily pending transfer to the master projector (3). A separate source image buffer (14) transfers right eye image data to a second image buffer (12) via the warping unit (20) where it is stored temporarily until both it and the master image in buffer (11) are transferred to projectors 4 and 3 respectively and then projected onto a screen to form a single 3D image. The warping is done on one of the images to eliminate the need for high precision optics needed to match left and right eye image sizes. The output from projectors 3 and 4 are coded (not shown) so that only left eye images are seen by the left eyes of audience members and only right eye images by their right eyes. Common coding techniques include, but are not limited to, polarization, time multiplexing and color.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the 2D mode of the invention where the source image data is provided at a higher resolution (17) than what either of the two projectors can project. This data is resized (19) for the master projector (3) to match the desired display resolution of the projector. The pixel correspondence map (21) is re-scaled (18) to match the high resolution source. This high resolution pixel correspondence map is used by the warping engine (20) to sample the source image data for the slave projector. The output of the warping engine (20) is matched to the resolution that the projector can project. The resulting composite image projected on the screen may have, a higher fidelity because of the image quality improvement that occurred as a result of resizing projected image data from higher resolution source data. FIG. 5 shows the 3D mode of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts the second embodiment of a 3D mode of operation of the inventive system for use with electronic projectors that use orthogonal polarizations to combine the three separate color channels (usually red, green and blue) into one composite beam for projection. In this type projector the output light has one color channel polarized orthogonal to the other two. If the 3D mode of the first embodiment were used with this type of projector the images seen by viewers would be scrambled. One color from the right eye image would be visible in the viewers left eye, while one color from right eye image would be visible in the left. This scrambling would destroy the stereoscopic effect.

In this second embodiment, a polarization converter (22) is positioned within the optical path of projector 4; in this case it shown between the projector and the screen. This converter (22) changes the polarization of all of the component color channels of projector (4) into an orthogonal polarization state to the respective component colors from projector (3). Those skilled in the art will realize that the converter (22) is a ½ wave plate. Alternatively ¼ wave plates with suitable orientation of their fast axes may be placed in front or within each of the projectors to achieve the same result. Further, the projectors themselves may be designed to emit light that is orthogonal in polarization.

Without loss of generality, assume, for example, that it is the green channel that is orthogonally polarized to the red and blue channels. In FIG. 6 the green color channels of both the left and right eye image data source buffers (13, 14) are transferred to a warping unit 20. The red and blue image data is transferred directly from the source buffer (13) to the projector buffer (11) for the left eye image data and between buffer (14) and buffer (12) for the right eye image data. The right eye green image data is warped using the pixel correspondence map (21) so that when it is projected by projector (3) it will align spatially with red and blue channel projected by projector (4). The left eye green image data is warped using the pixel correspondence map (21) so that when it is projected by projector (4) it will align spatially with red and blue channel projected by projector (3). After warping the image data for the green channels are transferred to projector image buffers (11, 12) and combined with the red and blue channels of the opposite eye image data before being simultaneously transferred to the projectors (3,4). When the images are combined on the screen (2), the right eye image color channels will all have the identical polarization, while left eye image color channels will all have a polarization that is orthogonal to the right eye image.

A significant benefit of this second embodiment of the invention is that it overcomes the need to convert light from the master projector (3) into a single polarization state and convert light from the slave projector (4) into a single polarization state orthogonal to the projector (3). This conversion of polarization can be accomplished either through the addition of a polarizer which has the adverse affect of reducing brightness by approximately by a minimum of 50% because the polarization axis of the polarizer must be 45 degrees from the polarization states of the output light. Alternatively, a filter may be added that rotates the polarization of one color channel while leaving the other channels relatively unaffected. In this case, a polarizer may be needed to eliminate unwanted light to reduce cross-talk between left and right eye images. The addition of this clean-up polarizer between has the adverse affect of reducing brightness by approximately 15% and may require further losses to ensure white point accuracy and color uniformity across the screen are maintained. In the 2D mode of operation this second embodiment would operate in a similar manner as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. No special arrangements would be required to account for the different polarizations of the color channels because the viewers would not be wearing polarization sensitive glasses.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 does not warp all the image information to the slave projector, hence, cannot correct: for aberrations in the slave projector lens relative to the master projector lens. FIG. 7 shows another version of this second embodiment of the invention. The difference in this case is that all of the color channels from the slave projector are warped in addition to one channel from the master projector eliminating the need for high precision optics required for projection. The ability to warp all colors of one eye image relative to the other eye permits the introduction of an offset on the screen between the two images in order to improve the performance of 3D presentations. Those skilled within the art will realize that are other versions of this second embodiment that are covered within the scope of this invention.

The various embodiments of this invention use similar components. It is possible to switch between 3D and 2D embodiments by simply changing the source images. To switch from a 3D mode to a 2D mode the source images would be duplicated in both source buffers or one source buffer would be turned off end one image would sent to all projectors as shown in FIG. 2. Switching back to a 3D mode would be the reverse process.

It is important to note that embodiments of this invention also include a Master projector, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 7, that pre-distorts images to lessen or eliminate first order distortions, such as keystone distortion and barrel or pincushion lens distortion, of the projected image. The pre-distortion may be achieved by preprocessing the source content or it may be a real-time correction that occurs in the electronic, data path of the Master projector. In one embodiment, the first order corrections to the Master projector\'s images is accomplished through an analytic description of the distortions. In a method identical to that previously described, the slave projector images are then warped to achieve sub-pixel registration with the Master projector images.

In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, there may be a need to modify the amount of warping to achieve accurate pixel registration between the Slave and Master projectors as the system warms up. Absorption of the light, as it propagates through the optical elements in the system, can cause slight changes in relative pixel locations of the Slave, and Master projectors. These changes are measurable and are found to be repeatable. In order to avoid waiting until the system reaches thermal equilibrium before presenting light on the screen, the pixel correspondence map can be updated, based on prior measurements, as the projection system runs in order to ensure accurate registration throughout the presentation.

In cases where the thermal effects are not completely predictable, dynamic changes in pixel alignment cause errors that can be compensated by updating the pixel correspondence map while the system is displaying 2D or 3D presentations. The map is updated by measuring test patterns that are adapted to be inserted in the presentation images using a method not easily detected by the viewers, such as placing the calibration points near the edge of the screen or making the points blend into the content. There are numerous means by which the calibration information may be embedded into the content many of which would require processing multiple frames to extract the calibration signal. This calibration information is not limited to the full array of dots that are used in the calibration prior to the presentation but may be a subset that allows one to correct for small changes in pixel positions across the screen as the presentation progresses.

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREEservice from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Systems and methods for projecting composite images or other areas of interest.###

Data source: patent applications published in the public domain by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Information published here is for research/educational purposes only. FreshPatents is not affiliated with the USPTO, assignee companies, inventors, law firms or other assignees. Patent applications, documents and images may contain trademarks of the respective companies/authors. FreshPatents is not responsible for the accuracy, validity or otherwise contents of these public document patent application filings. When possible a complete PDF is provided, however, in some cases the presented document/images is an abstract or sampling of the full patent application for display purposes. FreshPatents.com Terms/Support -g2-0.3463